NASCAR rule changes are like Wednesdays, you know that every week there is going to be one.

But this past week there indeed was a rule change that not only made sense, but it looks to be one that will level the playing field and produce better racing.

What the tall foreheads at NASCAR did was scrap the top-35 rule that gave starting spots in every race to the first 35 teams in the owner standings, regardless of who was driving the car.

That means a driver — say Danica Patrick — could claim a starting spot solely based on somebody else’s success in the No. 10 Chevrolet, as was the case last season.

What it did was throw a huge road block in front of new teams and gave a huge advantage to established teams.

The new format will go into effect immediately, so there will be much more at stake in this weekend’s qualifying and next week’s Budweiser Duel 150s in preparation for the Daytona 500.

By creating a system where speed is the determining factor in making a race, NASCAR has gone back to it roots and that is a good thing.

The rule simply makes qualifying mean more.

In every race this season the 36 quickest cars during qualifying make the grid. The next six spots — provisional starting positions — are reserved for any top six team in points that did not made it in on speed.

The final spot on the grid is reserved for the most recent Sprint Cup champion, who again, did not qualify on speed.

KENNINGTON IN DAYTONA

Two-time NASCAR Canadian Tires Series champion D. J. Kennington will be in Daytona next week and will race in the inaugural UNOH Battle At The Beach at Daytona International Speedway Monday and Tuesday.

The race is somewhat of an all-star deal that give the champions and race winners of the NCTS, K&N East and K&N West Series in the 2012 season automatic starting spots.

Kennington will drive the No. 28 Castrol Edge Toyota for Bill McNally Racing in the event that will take place on the 0.4-mile flat oval on the backstretch of DIS.

And he likes his chances.

“I love flat race tracks,” Kennington said in a release.

It is hardly Kennington’s first trip to Daytona, having driven in three NASCAR Nationwide Series races at the 2.5 mile-high banked oval.

“Anytime you race in Daytona it’s a big deal,” he said. “The history there is enough to knock you over. Whoever can say they won a race in Daytona has done something.”

CANADIAN KIDS RULE

A couple of Canadian teenagers registered podium finishes this past weekend in the USF2000 Winterfest event at Palm Springs International Speedway.

Vancouver’s Scott Hargrove, 19, finished second to teammate Neil Alberico, 20, from Los Gatos, Calif., in Sunday’s round driving for Cape Motorsports and 15-year-old Jesse Lazare, of Dollard des Ormeaux, Que., was third for the Pabst Racing Services team in Saturday’s round.

“I hope this championship represents how the rest of the year is going to go,” Hargrove said. “Finishing on the podium in every race is just a fantastic result.”

Lazare, who last week signed a contract to drive in a handful of NASCAR Canadian Tire Series races for Micks Motorsports, didn’t fare so well in the Sunday round in California, crashing on the first lap.

“The race was a disappointment but we decided we were going to work for the future and keep improving,” Lazare said. “I have been with a lot of teams and Pabst is the best I have been with.”

FINISH LINES

With open-wheel racing clearly in his rear view mirror, former Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr. will do double duty in stock cars this season, with a full time NASCAR Nationwide Series ride in the No. 30 Turner Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro as well as frequent forays into ther Camping World Truck Series, also with the Turner team. “I said from the very beginning of my NASCAR career that I wanted to go about it the right way and progress through the ranks when the time was right; that I wouldn’t rush,” Piquet said. ... Another exile for F-1, Nick Heidfeld, will team up with Neel Jani to drive a Lola-Toyota B12/60 LMP1 prototype for Rebellion Racing in the American Le Mans Series this season, including a stop in August at the Mobil Grand Prix of Mosport at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. .... Apparantly no truth to rumours that Brian Barnhart — the man who robbed Paul Tracy of Indy 500 win — will get top job at IZOD IndyCar Series.